Friday was a busy day for us with Venus (Romance) squaring off with Pluto (Transformation), and the Moon (Emotion) being tugged by a number of planets including Neptune (Spirituality), Mars (Initiative), and Mercury (Communication). Now that’s a bundle of feelings to deal with. You may have seen some resistance to the new ideas you have for your romantic life. At work you can proceed on that new project you know (in your gut) will fly — but you have to communicate well and early to develop the right team spirit with your coworkers.

“Birth, renewal, sowing and awakening, all play their role now.”

Saturday brings the free spirited New Moon in Virgo — a captivating time it is for lovers. This comes from the “awakening” energy of new moons — where you can awaken, once again, to the allure and attraction in your romance. Saturday also finds the Moon in conjunction with Saturn, which like Virgo has fine tunings for practicality. This theme continues into Sunday as the Moon (Emotions) shows tension with Uranus (New Ideas). So, there’s no need to be extravagant, just focus on your mate. No matter how long you’re been together, you can always discover each other anew.

This tension between new and creative ideas versus practicality is particularly strong now since the first quarter Moon energy brings a feeling of beginnings. Birth, renewal, sowing and awakening, all play their role now. But there are many good things that begin in a practical mode. Attention to detail is always a good way to kick off a new project.

And the New Moon is associated with spring, the east and the element wood. People born in this phase tend to be lively and innovative — free spirits with a love of new ideas and adventures. They are generally impressionable, inventive and outgoing, but also impulsive and restless. This lunar phase governs the signs of Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon in Chinese Astrology. So enjoy this time of renewal as one season ends and another begins.

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About Daija: Daija DeMornay is a Christian based, Astrologer, Counselor and Coach. She is a 3rd generation NCGR (National Counsel of Geocosmic Research) Astrologer, Spiritual Counselor, Psychic Visionary, and Tarot Reader who has been in practice since the early 80’s, holding live consultations, workshops and seminars in New Orleans, St. Louis, Houston, New York, and L.A. She has written columns on Astrology and appeared as a guest on television programs with a focus on Relationships, Astrology and Advice, and continues to make herself available for those venues.

Above, Virgo (from an medieval astrology text), may be Astraea… the goddess of justice, from Greek Mythology.

As we saunter into Virgo, on August 22nd, suddenly we are moe disciplined, more aware of our surroundings, and more alert to details. We can get more done yet… are we spinning our wheels in the wrong direction? What truly matters to us? Perfectionism or Excellence? Balance is important as we move through this time.

“There is a constant dynamic tension in our lives between what our minds tell us, and what we feel in our hearts.”

In astrology, Virgo is considered a “feminine”, introverted sign which brings good attention to details. It is also considered an earth sign and ruled by the planet Mercury (Communication). So, you may find yourself talking about the details of your career, and your romance — but are they the right details? One clue from the mythology of Virgo, is that in Greek history, it was thought that Virgo was actually the virgin daughter of Zeus and Themis — Astraea… the goddess of justice. This is a key for your focus on details at this time — look for what is right — just — as you work things out.

Midweek, the Moon is also very active working well with Chron (Healing), but in opposition with Saturn (Practicality), and Mercury (Communication). Remember that it is the Sun (Personality) that prefers the details now, not necessarily your emotional self (the Moon). There is a constant dynamic tension in our lives between what our minds tell us, and what we feel in our hearts. Sometimes these two ways to focus are in harmony, but on Wednesday (two days prior to the Sun entering the detail focus of Virgo), you may find yourself feeling frustrated with the “small print.” Take a break for an hour or so. Think about what’s really important in the bigger picture, then return (to a work project, or a discussion with a loved one) and find the right details to support what is the right course of action.

Astrologers study “aspects” — the relative positions of planets at a certain point in time — by charting positions, and tracking affects.

Often when I write blog posts, I talk about how the planets are working in the heavens, sometimes cooperating with one another, and sometimes at odds and how that impacts us here on earth. And in horoscope charts, aspects are patterns we check to ascertain elements of the personality. But what are these “aspects” exactly? I get the question a lot, so let’s take a closer look.

“Aspect patterns have a major influence on your personality and character by creating greater ease or resistance.”

You can think of aspects as way in which the planets work together to make things easier, or harder for you. You can track (chart) aspects by studying the angles that planets form to one another at particular points in time. And, when several aspects occur in the same chart (or simultaneously), they can create larger aspect patterns. Instead of one aspect, several planets in aspect can create a larger aspect pattern. These larger patterns can signify a complex personality pattern, referred to by psychologists as “complexes”.

Modern astrologers approach aspects more from data and reporting in current research with some consideration of historical reference. “Astrological harmonics” is an umbrella term having to do with the study and factoring in of all aspects for a given person, or situation.

Aspect patterns have a major influence on your personality and character by creating greater ease or resistance. They can also be set off and stepped up by transiting and progressed planets. A natal trine may become a Grand Trine whenever a third planet enters the part of the zodiac that trines both planets already in trine. A T-Square can become a Grand Square, and a sextile can become a Yod. This can also happen in relation to other people and their planets can form larger aspect patterns with yours. Having these aspects together can create feelings of immediate rapport and significant relationship dynamics or something you are both attracted to work on or understand.

Helpful Aspects: Trines & Grand Trines

Trines are formed between a couple of planets when they are roughly at a 120 degree angle from each other and generally are viewed as a favorable influence with the energy of each planet contributing to the positive energy of the trine. A simple example would be on a particular day when Mercury (Communication) forms a trine with Venus (Love), then it can be said to be fortuitous to speak what is in your heart — about love, on that day. But things are usually much more complex than that, and even following trines, there can be too many of them in a chart which might tend to make a person lazy.

“A T-Square is a challenging aspect that signifies a struggle that intensifies and eventually leads to a resolution.”

When 2 planets make a trine (120 degree angle), and there is a 3rd planet that also makes trines to both planets, this triangle is called a Grand Trine. Imagine a planet at 0 degrees Aries, another at 0 Leo and a 3rd at 0 Sagittarius, and this is a Grand Trine. The 3 planets that make up a Grand Trine are usually in the same ELEMENT. They don’t have to be, as some aspects are very close, yet out-of-sign. However, the principle of a Grand Trine is that there or 3 (or more) planets trine each other in the same element. When you see a Grand Trine in a chart, it looks like a large triangle.

A Grand Trine aspect pattern can create a feeling of ease and complacency because things seem to “just happen” seamlessly, without effort, friction, or force. This can signify a special talent or ability that appears effortless, but it can also signal a tendency to be lazy or complacent because things come so easily that there is nothing to prove and talent is never fully developed. Your tendency can be to leave the tough stuff for another day. With a Grand Trine, there’s always tomorrow….

Challenging Aspects: T-Squares and Grand Squares

When 3 planets square each other, they form a triangle called a T-Square. In a T-Square, there is one planet that squares 2 other planets that oppose each other. If you envision a planet at 0 degrees Aries with a planet square it from 0 Capricorn and another at 0 Cancer, this is a T-Square. If there is also a 4th planet in square with the others, for example a planet at 0 degrees Libra, this creates a Grand Square pattern.

A T-Square is a challenging aspect that signifies a struggle that intensifies and eventually leads to a resolution. While T-Square configurations are common, they signify an inherent challenge that forces growth or change that can lead to success in life. The focal planet, or planet that squares the opposing planets, is the key to the T-Square and shows where tension is most likely to show up. Conflict resolution may be aided by the missing or empty part of the Square (opposing the focal planet).

Above, Zytglogge tower in Bern, Switzerland. East facade fresco showing the gods for the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury.

While T-Squares are often found in charts, Grand Squares are less common and often signify a weight to bear that keeps you on a short leash. It may seem like access is continuously denied and you are restricted to a small area where growth is only possible with discipline and hard work. For some reason or another, you are continually stressed and need to consciously maintain balance, always being forced to stick to the straight and narrow. Somehow, these people often learn to carry big loads and are capable of effectively handling large responsibilities. However, they can also feel overstressed and overburdened at times.

Cosmic Aspects: Yods

In a YOD pattern, 2 planets make a sextile, and they both make a quincunx (inconjunct or 150 degree aspect) to a 3rd planet, creating a triangle, or Yod. If you imagine a planet at 0 Aries and 2 planets sextile each other at 0 Virgo and 0 Scorpio, this is a Yod.

Yods are called the “finger of God” and have a connotation of being receptive to messages from higher states of consciousness. While Yods can be exotic and you can enjoy the adventure of feeling like a stranger in a strange land, you may also need to make consessions and be adaptive to unfamiliar situations when you have a Yod in your chart. It may be that you give in one direction and get your needs met from a completely different source, so it is not possible to measure how much others give you to decide how much you can give.

All of these kaleidoscope of patterns factor in together in your horoscope and the picture (a snapshot of patterns) that astrologers consider for daily, weekly, and monthly events.

A Lunar Eclipse, like that which occurred on Feb. 20,
happens when the Moon and the Sun
are on opposite sides of the Earth. The
last Virgo-Pisces eclipse was 19 years ago.

Happy Friday!! The Moon (emotions) forms a square with Mars (initiative), so you may have a gut hunch — call it your emotional intelligence — today that leads you to take action. In business this can mean you have an intuition about a new product or service that could pay off. In your romantic life, trust your instincts about your relationship and act positively.

“Now reconsider that this your second chance now to begin again or add to what you began then, to make better what you started back then — 19 years ago.”

The Moon was in Leo (drama) a couple of days ago and that brings feelings of putting yourself “out front” to the fore. Did you feel like taking center stage today? The Sun (personality) is also working with Pluto (transformation) making for a certain powerful “performance” as you step forward. The trick is presenting yourself well, as others do the same — somewhat like two political competitors sharing the same stage. It can be done, but it takes a certain diplomacy.

What is it that you want? Whatever it is, you can have it, because your thoughts create your reality. Therefore, remember that what you believe — is! So you may as well, believe something good, happy & positive rather than something, bad, sad, & negative. True? Of course!! And suddenly… your life becomes exactly what you choose to believe! So, as we enter the season of Pisces, ask yourself, is your fantasy something you’d like to become your reality? You can make it so!

Last Wednesday, we had a Lunar Eclipse. Remember that Eclipses occur in 19 year cycles. The last Virgo - Pisces Eclipse was Feb. 20th, 1989. Whatever you were contemplating back then — stop for a moment and think about where you were and what you were doing, where you were going and why — what motivated you to go forward or stop whatever it was you were doing. Now reconsider that this your second chance now to begin again or add to what you began then, to make better what you started back then. This is your second opportunity for success — and you will reach your goal, simply remove the word Try! “Fear is the carpet in front of the temple door… Spirituality is the end of arguing with what is.” (Adyashanti)